Apparatus for implanting a preloaded localization wire

Abstract

An apparatus for percutaneously implanting a localization wire into a tissue mass includes a handle having a grip portion and a base. The grip portion is slidably mounted to the base. The base has a keyway. A cannula is movable relative to the handle between an insertion position and a retracted position. A localization wire is positioned to extend from the handle and into the cannula lumen. An actuator is coupled to the cannula and is configured to operate between a charged condition and a discharged condition to retract the cannula. A collar is mounted to the cannula. The collar includes a key having a key projection. The key projection is not aligned with the keyway when the actuator is in the charged condition and the key projection is aligned with the keyway to facilitate retraction of the cannula toward the retracted position to effect the discharged condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for percutaneously implanting a localization wire within a tissue mass, comprising:
 a handle having a grip portion and a base, the grip portion slidably mounted to the base, the base having a keyway; 
 a cannula mounted to the handle, the cannula defining a lumen and having a distal end forming an insertion tip, the cannula being movable relative to the handle between an insertion position and a retracted position; 
 a localization wire positioned to extend from the handle and into the lumen of the cannula, the localization wire having a distal end; 
 an actuator coupled to the cannula and configured to operate between a charged condition and a discharged condition to retract the cannula toward the retracted position to expose the distal end of the localization wire; and 
 a collar mounted to the cannula, the collar including a key having a key projection, and the keyway of the base configured to selectively receive the key projection, and configured such that the key projection is not aligned with the keyway when the actuator is in the charged condition and the key projection is aligned with the keyway in an aligned condition to facilitate retraction of the cannula toward the retracted position to effect the discharged condition. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one anchor coupled to the localization wire, the at least one anchor configured to extend beyond the distal end of the cannula when the actuator effects the retraction of the cannula relative to the localization wire. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes:
 a biasing element coupled to the cannula to move the cannula from the insertion position to the retracted position; and 
 a trigger operable between a ready position and a release position, the trigger configured to move the collar to the aligned condition to control operation of the biasing element. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the biasing element is a spring, the apparatus being configured such that movement of the trigger from the ready position to the release position positions the collar at the aligned condition to release the spring from a compressed state to an expanded state to move the cannula from the insertion position to the retracted position. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grip is configured for movement relative to the base between a first position, where the cannula and the localization wire are substantially received within the grip, and a second position, wherein at least a portion of the localization wire is proximal to a proximal end of the cannula. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein when the grip is moved to the second position, the actuator is moved to the charged condition. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , the actuator including a spring disposed between the base and the grip, and configured such that the spring is compressed when the grip is moved to the second position. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the actuator includes a spring; and 
 the handle defines a hollow interior and an end, wherein the spring is located within the hollow interior and extends between the end and the collar, the spring being in a compressed state when the actuator is in the charged condition. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator includes:
 a trigger coupled to the handle, the trigger having a ready position and a release position; and 
 a finger configured to facilitate positioning of the collar to the aligned condition when the trigger is moved from in the ready position to the release position, to release the spring from the compressed state. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the localization wire is contained entirely within the cannula and the handle when the actuator is in the charged condition. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for percutaneously implanting a localization wire within a tissue mass, comprising:
 a handle having a grip portion and a base, the grip portion slidably mounted to the base, the base having a keyway; 
 a cannula defining a lumen and having a distal insertion tip, the cannula being movable relative to the handle between an insertion position and a retracted position; 
 a localization wire located within the lumen and having a distal end near the distal insertion tip when the cannula is in the insertion position, wherein the localization wire comprises at least one anchor adapted to hold the localization wire in the tissue mass, the cannula and the localization wire being configured such that each of the at least one anchor remains completely contained in the cannula when the cannula is in the insertion position prior to the cannula being moved to the retracted position; 
 an actuator operable between a charged condition and a discharged condition to effect retraction of the cannula relative to the localization wire so as to expose the distal end of the localization wire to the tissue mass and so as to expose each of the at least one anchor to the tissue mass; and 
 a collar mounted to the cannula, the collar including a key having a key projection, and the keyway of the base configured to selectively receive the key projection, and configured such that the key projection is not aligned with the keyway when the actuator is in the charged condition and the key projection is aligned with the keyway in an aligned condition to facilitate retraction of the cannula toward the retracted position to effect the discharged condition. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator includes:
 a biasing element coupled to the cannula to move the cannula from the insertion position to the retracted position; and 
 a trigger operable between a ready position and a release position, the trigger configured to move the collar to the aligned condition to control operation of the biasing element. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the biasing element is a spring, the apparatus being configured such that movement of the trigger from the ready position to the release position positions the collar at the aligned condition to release the spring from a compressed state to an expanded state to move the cannula from the insertion position to the retracted position. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the grip is configured for movement relative to the base between a first position, where the cannula and the localization wire are substantially received within the grip, and a second position, wherein at least a portion of the localization wire is proximal to a proximal end of the cannula. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein when the grip is moved to the second position, the actuator is moved to the charged condition. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , the actuator including a spring disposed between the base and the grip, and configured such that the spring is compressed when the grip is moved to the second position. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grip is configured for movement relative to the base between a first position, where the cannula and the localization wire are substantially received within the grip, and a second position, wherein the cannula and the localization wire are configured to remain stationary as the grip is retracted, the grip is configured to be retracted such that a substantial portion of the cannula is exterior to the grip. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the grip portion is configured for movement relative to the base between a first position, where the cannula and the localization wire are substantially received within the grip, and a second position, wherein the cannula and the localization wire are configured to remain stationary as the grip is retracted, the grip is configured to be retracted such that a substantial portion of the cannula is exterior to the grip. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for percutaneously implanting a localization wire within a tissue mass, comprising:
 a handle having a grip portion and a base, the grip portion slidably mounted to the base, the base having a keyway; 
 a cannula slidably mounted to the handle, the cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, and defining a lumen, the distal end forming an insertion tip, the cannula being movable relative to the handle between an insertion position and a retracted position; 
 a localization wire positioned to extend distally from a proximal end of the base of the handle and into the lumen at the proximal end of the cannula, the localization wire having a distal end; 
 an actuator coupled to the cannula and configured to operate between a charged condition and a discharged condition to retract the cannula toward the retracted position to expose the distal end of the localization wire; and 
 a collar mounted to the proximal end of the cannula, the localization wire extending through the collar, the collar including a key having a key projection, and the keyway of the base configured to selectively receive the key projection, and configured such that the key projection is not aligned with the keyway when the actuator is in the charged condition and the key projection is aligned with the keyway in an aligned condition to facilitate retraction of the cannula toward the retracted position to effect the discharged condition.